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Newport Handicaps the Singles Matches

Anything can and certainly will happen in the Monday singles matches. Both teams are sending out their strongest players in the first three matches (funny how the American world No. 1, Tiger Woods, and current world No. 2, Phil Mickelson, aren’t among them), and if the Americans could sweep those three matches, the concluding matches could be very exciting.

Herewith, my non-guaranteed predictions.

Match 1: Steve Stricker, U.S., vs. Lee Westwood, Europe

Westwood, who will officially become world No. 2 in the new rankings Monday, has been a beacon of confident strength and peerless play for Europe. Hard to see him losing, even to steady, ready Stricker, world No. 4.

WINNER: EUROPE

Match 2: Stewart Cink, U.S., vs. Rory McIlroy, Europe

If veteran Cink’s putter gets hot again, he should be able to take the rookie McIlroy, even though McIlroy, when he gets hot, can get really really hot.

USA

Match 3: Jim Furyk, U.S., vs. Luke Donald, Europe

Two consistent players with similarly consistent styles. But Donald has been playing better this week.

EUROPE

Match 4: Dustin Johnson, U.S., vs. Martin Kaymer, Europe

Great match between tall, young athletic bombers. Johnson is 26, Kaymer is 25. Neither has played especially well this week, but both want it: Kaymer because his homeland, Germany, is bidding for the 2018 Ryder Cup, Johnson because he wants to prove himself as America’s future superstar.

USA

Match 5: Matt Kuchar, U.S.,, vs. Ian Poulter, Europe

Both have been standouts for their teams, but the Euro-centric crowds will get Poulter going. He loves the spotlight!

EUROPE

Match 6: Jeff Overton, U.S., vs. Ross Fisher, Europe

This could go either way. Fisher came through with crucial putts Sunday to bail out his partner, Padraig Harrington. Overton busted out big-time this week as the top, fearless American rookie, but he faltered a bit down the stretch Sunday.

EUROPE

Match 7: Bubba Watson, U.S., vs. Miguel Angel Jimenez, Europe

Classic rookie vs. veteran duel. Jimenez, 46, was the European hero of the third session with his clutch birdie bomb on No. 16 and nerveless wedge into No. 18. Watson hasn’t shown much this week, and the course, with its thick rough, disadvantages his greatest asset: length.

EUROPE

Match 8: Tiger Woods, U.S., vs. Francesco Molinari, Europe

World No. 1 should easily dispatch Francesco, with his shaky putter, despite Woods’s own shaky putter.

USA

Match 9: Rickie Fowler, U.S., vs. Edoardo Molinari, Europe

Fowler has guts and game. If Molinari, a superb putter, doesn’t break Fowler’s heart early by holing a bunch of long putts, Fowler could roll.

USA

Match 10: Phil Mickelson, U.S., vs. Peter Hanson, Europe

There’s no reason to pick Mickelson, given how poorly he’s played so far. And Hanson has been steady. But Mickelson, eager to redeem himself, will rise to the occasion.

USA

Match 11: Zach Johnson, U.S., vs. Padraig Harrington, Europe

Harrington has been an important clubhouse leader for Europe, but he’s still slumping badly. Johnson is sure-handed in the pinch and will not be denied.

USA

Match 12: Hunter Mahan, U.S., vs. Graeme McDowell, Europe

If this final match matters for the Cup outcome, which the odds are it won’t, McDowell (buoyed by the crowd and his teammates who have finished their matches) will prevail. But Mahan was an ace in 2008 at Valhalla and will go down in the books as the winner of this after-the-fact match.

SPORTS, THE JOURNAL WAY

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